Xerophaeus rostratus

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Graaff Reinet Mouse Ground Spider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Gnaphosidae
Genus: Xerophaeus
Species:
X. rostratus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus rostratus
Purcell, 1907 [1]

Xerophaeus rostratus is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Graaff Reinet mouse ground spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus rostratus is recorded from three South African provinces: the Free State, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Grassland and Nama Karoo biomes at altitudes ranging from 778 to 1492 m above sea level. Xerophaeus rostratus are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Conservation

Xerophaeus rostratus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The species appears to be sufficiently widespread despite being known only from a few specimens. More sampling is needed to determine the species' range, but there are no significant threats. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1907 from Graaff-Reinet. The species has not been revised but is known from both sexes. [3]

References

  1. Purcell, W.F. (1907). "New South African spiders of the family Drassidae in the collection of the South African Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 20 (118): 297–336. doi:10.1080/00222930709487339.
  2. "Xerophaeus rostratus Purcell, 1907". World Spider Catalog.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Gnaphosidae of South Africa. Part 3 (T-X). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 56. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.